Inside Unmanned Systems

AUG 2015

Inside Unmanned Systems provides actionable business intelligence to decision-makers and influencers operating within the global UAS community. Features include analysis of key technologies, policy/regulatory developments and new product design.

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70 unmanned systems
inside
September/October 2015
AIR/LAND LAW ENFORCEMENT
and marketing. Many officers don't understand the
capabilities, or how easy it is to operate a UAS—es-
pecially one designed specifically for law enforce-
ment applications.
"We need education at the police force level
about just how easy it is to operate a UAS," Proulx
said. "There's a lingering mental perception that it
requires a degree of specialization that is difficult
to achieve."
Many agencies also don't realize that UAS like
Aeryon's SkyRanger are designed for these types
of applications and can fly in harsh conditions,
day or night, Proulx said. They think they can only
fly them during calm days, a misconception that
may keep them from pursuing a UAS program.
The thought of developing a policy for flying
UAS also keeps agencies grounded, Miller said,
but the process isn't as exhaustive as many agen-
cies think. The policy Miller submitted to his
policy committee was 30 pages. The committee
cut it down to 17 because many of the areas hit on
were covered in other policies.
Since the MSP received authorization, they've
fielded more than 100 calls and emails from
agencies asking about their policies and proce-
dures. Rogers and the other officers are happy
to answer their questions, and even offer their
UAS services for free to any law enforcement
agency in the state.
"There's no need for another agency to re-write
a manual if we already have the information,"
Rogers said. "And we want to make sure every-
body that operates these systems are operating
them within the rules and regulations."
The Future
As UAS continue to evolve, Proulx predicts more
law enforcement agencies will use them. He sees
agencies centrally managing the aircraft and
making them available for various applications.
Aircraft like the SkyRanger come equipped with
mission specific hardware, software and sensor
packages, making them easy to use and ready to
deploy at a moment's notice.
Miller sees a time when agencies deploy UAS
on a daily basis, and rather than specific teams
operating them, any trained officers will be able to
deploy them when necessary. The technology will
eventually get to a place where it's viewed as dis-
posable, making it less of an issue if a small UAS
is damaged during a crash.
The agencies that have already made the move
to unmanned want to not only stay on the lead-
ing edge and use the most up-to-date technology
that's available, they want to create a path for other
agencies to follow. They hope to lead the way as
UAS become an everyday tool officers can rely on
for a variety of applications.
As more agencies fly UAS and have conversa-
tions with the communities they serve about the
benefits, agreed those who spoke with Inside Un-
manned Systems, more people will accept them as
a worthwhile technological advancement. Gain-
"
As more agencies
get their hands on
this technology,
we'll see an even
greater spread of
applications for
these aircraft."
Mesa County
Sheriff's Offce
Draganfyer X4-ES.
Photo courtesy of Mesa County Sheriff 's Office
–David Proulx,
Aeryon VP product and
marketing